PATERSON — As far as Gov. Chris Christie’s town hall meetings go, number 102 was one of the most memorable — and not just because it was the second ever held in an urban church.

Christie’s brash demeanor was on full display as he paced in front of the pulpit and took on an equally outspoken resident who chanted "fix the public schools!" in a fiery but ultimately civil debate.

Using re-election-year manners, Christie didn’t call the heckler names or kick him out of St. Luke’s Baptist Church in Paterson.

He seized the opportunity to lay out an education policy showcasing vouchers and charter schools in a city where the state has run the school district for more than two decades. But he also angered Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), who later accused him of "racial polarization."

"Why is it taking a Republican governor from the suburbs to stand up and fight the teachers union and the urban political machine to say, ‘Hey, I want to give your children a shot?’" said Christie, who was born in Newark, raised in Livingston and lives in Mendham Township. "Let me tell you what that is, that’s the worst kind of discrimination from my perspective."

A town hall that had been pretty placid for about an hour heated up when a resident said state control of the Paterson School District turned residents into "second-class citizens."

Christie told the crowd that packed the church he would like to end the state takeover of the school district but "I’m also am not going to just throw up my hands and say well it’s been a failure so I’m just going to give up on you folks. Then you’re second-class citizens, when we give up."

Though he didn’t mention her name, Christie singled out Oliver for holding up a vote on his Opportunity Scholarship Act, which would give vouchers to students to attend private and parochial schools.

"We have an African-American female speaker of the Assembly who represents communities like East Orange and Orange where there are failing schools all over and she refuses to let people vote on this bill," he said, looking at an audience that included ally state Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex). "Let me tell you I’ve got Republicans sitting over here who would vote for that bill tomorrow even though not a nickel of that money would go to their districts."

In response, Oliver issued a statement calling for compromise, then a strongly worded one accusing Christie of "racial polarization."

"I have never, nor will I ever, reference the governor’s ethnicity, or make a veiled reference to the color of his skin, yet that’s exactly what Governor Christie did today when discussing me, as if it was the 19th century," Oliver said. "Governor — if you have a problem with me, call me by name."

But the governor persisted, saying Oliver's opposition to vouchers is hard to justify.

"We're sorry the Speaker misinterpreted the Governor's remarks in that way," spokesman Michael Drewniak said today. "This was about one thing and one thing only - bringing all educational opportunities to children in our urban centers."

At the town hall, Christie called criticism that he wants to eliminate public schools "old worn out BS." He said only "when guys who look like me are joined by folks who look like you and demand it" will the system change.

After Christie talked about taking on teachers unions, Mike Henry of Everlasting Life Ministry started shouting — softly at first and then louder — "Fix the public schools!"

Later, Chrisie took a question from Lisabeth Minaya of East Side High School, whose words packed a bigger punch than the heckler’s: "We haven’t seen nothing, I don’t even have books in my classroom."

The crowd clapped and Henry again took up his "Fix the public schools!" mantra. Someone chided Henry to keep it down, "We’re in a church." Others encouraged Christie to kick him out.

"Yeah I hear you, you’re the star, absolutely," said Christie. "Listen sir, I’m not asking you to leave ... I invited everybody here so I’m going to let everyone stay until we’re done."

Later, Henry said: "He never answered my question. New Jersey has the best school system in America for the rich and the worst school system for the poor. We need to correct this injustice."

At the beginning of the town hall, the Republican governor noted he’d gotten only 11 percent of the Paterson vote in 2009. And outside, there was something rarely seen at his town halls: protesters. A small group from the Hispanic Council On Social Policy Center For Community Development Corporation stood outside the church in opposition to Christie’s public school policies, plan to close mental health institutions and other positions they believe hurt the middle class.

When it was all over, the Rev. Michael McDuffie put one hand on Christie’s forehead and the other on his shoulder.

"In the Bible, Timothy said, pray for all those in authority so we the people can live in peace in this land," McDuffie said later. "The old Christie would say, I’ll get up in your face, too. But I’ve watched him mature more, being it’s an election year of course, you have to handle your words wisely."